I have wonderful news!
I'm delighted to announce that the talented Lynnette Novak of the Seymour Agency is now my literary agent! I am beyond thrilled to have a partner in my career as an author and can't wait to share many stories with children.
This is a big step for me, and I would like to share a bit about my journey to reach this point. In late 2019, after going through my nephew's bookshelf, I was inspired to write my own stories. I wrote a few stories and tried to learn more about the publishing industry and literary agents, but my knowledge of the topic was very superficial. The following year, I came across the Storyteller Academy after my mother-in-law tagged me on a Facebook post. Had I not shared with others my very early drafts and my desire to write for children, it would've taken me much longer to find such a valuable space for authors and illustrators. This is to say that if you are passionate about something, talk about it! You never know how the people around you will become instruments and propellers of your journey.
The Storyteller Academy has played a significant role in my writing journey. Their courses taught me valuable knowledge, which helped me improve my writing skills and understand the publishing industry better. Through the Storyteller Academy, I found my wonderful critique partners, who have also become friends. The SCBWI has also been really helpful, especially in connecting with local authors and illustrators! Over the years, I queried multiple agents and sent approximately 30 query letters. Early in my querying attempts, because rejections were hard, I decided that writing was my priority and that the time spent writing picture books would eventually lead to signing with an agent. I also applied to a few mentorships but was never chosen. Amazingly, this year I participated in the PBParty contest for the third time and was selected as a finalist! My story received great interest from editors and agents; this is how Lynnette and I connected! I'm excited about this new chapter and can't wait to see where the road leads!
Thanks for reading,
Frances
